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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Oh Where, Oh Where, Has His Enthusiasm Gone...

For the most part school's back in session for us ragamuffins, well, just 3 subjects if you count Bible, and glum's the word.

My sweet, smarter than he lets on student/child, who shall not remain nameless, LINCOLN, read and workbooked himself silly this summer to earn money. Now that money isn't involved, well, let's just say motivation and desire have suddenly disappeared. But, that surely hasn't taken this mama by surprise, cuz, I do know my children pretty well, I think. It just makes my job a tad bit more challenging. Trying to teach a slumpy-shouldered, frown face can kind of get to me at times. Oh boy, and this is just the beginning.

I am happy to report, though, that he diligently earned a little over 20 bucks this summer, and that's a lot considering he only got $.50 for novels (like The Magic Tree House series and such)and $.10 per workbook page. The child who squirmed and fussed over having to read a level 2 book out loud to me every day during the school year was begging me for more Jack and Annie books and Beyond the Code workbooks. And he worked with a smile of all things.

I will continue to do fun stuff and have fun incentives for work during the summer, but it's up to each child to keep a good attitude during the school year or face consequences. It is my desire to see that my kids can work hard and cheerfully as if they were working for the Lord and not men even when the work isn't necessarily fun. And men, here can be appropriately interpreted as mom. :) Hopefully, they will see, too, that work is a privilege and happy are they who have work to do.

I mentioned above that we've only started a few subjects to kind of get the ball rolling and to ease back into school instead of BAM, yesterday was summer and BAM, today is a full, 9 subject load day. I even purposefully started off with Science, which is a favorite subject around here, but Lincoln told me today, "I used to like science, but now I hate it." Hmm, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out--last year he only had to listen to me read the lessons and participate in oral retelling and projects, which he loves. This year I am teaching him to take notes, simple ones of course, but nonetheless, its WORK that takes time. So, I am guessing that because he has to take notes after every lesson, he just can't possibly like it any more.

I feel a Charlie Brown comin' on--------------------- GOOD GRIEF!!!

Tomorrow's gonna be a better day--we'll have a set of wheels to go to the library, run to the store (shhh, don't tell anyone it's to Wal-Greens so I can buy more coconut M&Ms), and I have promised to let the kids spend their money on 59 cent icies at Quick Trip. It gets HOT as, um, fire here runnin' errands in 115 degree heat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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About Me

Brandi is the wife of the one and only Ragamuffinwriter and home school mom to three precious children. She lived in Memphis, TN for 21 years, but now resides in the hot, dry Arizona desert.
Brandi Raae is a place for her to store her thoughts, archive her family's life, share her faith, reminisce days gone by, compile yummy recipes, review amazing products, and write about all things homeschool.